People mostly smiled when I made my way through town on my yellow bike. It was a replica of how bikes used to look four hundred years ago and even had a basket in front with yellow flowers.
I couldn’t help it; I’d always had a fetish for everything historic and quaint. Besides, it might be antique in style, but my bike still complied with the environmental rules and generated power when I rode it. I was a proud contributor of at least half the amount of power I used every day. The other half I earned by teaching at the University and at the senior center, and by volunteering in my building’s community garden.
Most buildings had urban gardens growing in row upon row of specially made boxes up the wall of the buildings. It was both beautiful, with all the colors, and practical, as we shared the responsibility of nurturing the plants and herbs with our neighbors and always had seasonal vegetables available.
I pressed harder on my pedals to pass by two slow-moving women who seemed to have all the time in the world. It wasn’t that I was stressed; I just wanted to get ten minutes to catch my breath and find my inner peace before my important meeting with the councilwoman, Pearl.
With a smile on my lips I visualized her approving my request to go on an archeological field job again. Maybe even back to the blue area, where the former city of New York offered plenty of fascinating digging sites. The once-huge city had been left in ruins after the war, but a new and more environmentally friendly city had sprung up, and there was always excitement when something from the old world was found and retrieved. Two years ago, I had helped excavate a treasure of old wisdom when the head of a stone lion had been found on a building site. Our team had uncovered the remains of a museum: an incredible find that had provided us with material to study for years to come and made me hungry for more on-site experiences.
I parked my bike outside the city hall and took a second to look up at the intricate design of the vertical garden. Lavender offered a nice purple color to contrast with all the green herbs. I spotted mint, parsley, dill, and rosemary.
“May peace surround you,” a passer-by greeted me with a smile.
“And you,” I politely returned. Like me she was wearing comfortable clothes in warm colors made of soft fabric, and flat ballerinas.
The minute I opened the door to the large foyer of the town hall, I was met by the soothing sound of running water provided by the impressive fountain in the middle. It had a color-changing feature that played against the water, reflecting beautifully on the walls like a human-made rainbow.
With councilwoman Pearl nowhere to be seen, I took a minute to sit by the fountain and closed my eyes to center myself.
Of course, they’ll approve my request. I’ve done excellent work these past two years and kept out of trouble. It’ll be fine.
Smiling, I envisioned walking out of the building with good news, but my lovely visualizations were interrupted by a group of people speaking in hushed voices not far from me. At first, I tried to shut them out and focus on my breathing, but one sentence got my attention.
“It will have to be a male archeologist but so far all have refused.”
I automatically squeezed an eye open to see them better.
“It’s unlikely they’ll find a volunteer; no one is that suicidal,” a man with a long black braid proclaimed in a loud whisper. “It’s a shame because it would be exciting to get answers, wouldn’t it?”
Murmurs from the other four confirmed that, and I was just about to approach them to learn what they wanted answers to, when Councilwoman, Pearl, came walking in to the foyer.
The five people greeted her with wishes of eternal peace and she returned their kind wishes on her way toward me.
“Christina?” she asked politely, her sharp blue eyes locking in on me.
“Yes.”
“May peace surround you,” she said softly. “I’m pleased to finally meet you.” Pearl reached out to hold both my hands in a standard greeting and after the traditionally ten seconds of locking eyes, we let go.
“Let’s talk in the greenhouse; the butterflies in there are lovely,” Pearl said and walked slowly to the west wing of the city hall. She was taller than me and looked different than I had expected. Of course, I’d been curious about her when I’d been invited to come and meet her in person. It was unbelievable to me that a councilwoman would take time to speak with me and not just let one of her assistants do it. But the video I’d seen on Wise-Share had been a close-up of her face only and it didn’t show how tall and fit she was in person.
We didn’t speak while walking but politely greeted everyone we passed. Only when we entered a sunroom with an abundance of sunshine, plants, and a lovely smell of roses did Pearl start talking.
“Mind where you sit, Christina, or you might hurt the butterflies,” she warned and took a seat on a bench by the large window. I followed her example and sat next to her.
“You know why I called you here today.”
I nodded. “My request.”
“Yes, you have expressed a desire to get your hands dirty and be part of an archeological excavation again.”
I wrung my hands, not liking the grave expression on her face.
“Your request has been discussed, and unfortunately I am the carrier of bad news.”
Sucking in air, I held my breath while she told me what I’d been dreading to hear.
“It’s not that we don’t appreciate your talent and skills within the field of archeology. However, your history classes are very popular and it has been decided that for now, we prefer that you stay and teach.”
“But I’m ready to go back in the field. It’s been two years, and the students could easily be transferred to Professor Janson’s classes. I already spoke to her and she said it was fine.”
The edges around Pearl’s eyes softened. “I understand your disappointment, but there really isn’t an ideal project for you to work on at the moment.”
“But what about the project where you need a volunteer?” Not wanting this to be the end of it, I grasped at a straw, referring to the conversation I’d heard in the foyer.
Pearl leaned back and creased her brow. “What project would that be?”
“I’m not sure. I just overheard someone say there’s a need for an archeologist and that so far no one has volunteered. Couldn’t I volunteer for that project?” My voice was full of hope.
“Ahh,” Pearl nodded in understanding. “I think I know which project you speak of and, no, Christina, you certainly don’t want to volunteer for that project.”
“Why not?”
Pearl looked around and although no one was near us she leaned closer and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, “The site is in the Northlands. They’ve asked for our assistance to uncover what is believed to be a library.”
“They have?” I said unable to hide my excitement.
“Yes, they found books in reading condition and there might be more. Obviously, we’re intrigued and hoping to find answers that we’ve been lacking so far, but we may have to decline since we’ve been unable to find an archeologist willing to go.”
“I could do it!” I said spontaneously without thinking.
“No.” Pearl shook her head. “You know our policy. Women are not allowed to enter the Northlands. It’s too dangerous.”
She was right of course, but somehow I’d been certain my request would be approved and I wasn’t prepared to give up on my desire to get back in the field.
“But women have visited the Northlands before; Michelle Knight did it.”
“That was more than three hundred years ago. It’s been ages since we’ve had negotiations on their territory or allowed women to enter. It would simply be too risky.”
“Couldn’t you ask them to guarantee my safety?” I asked, an alarm going off inside me. I can’t let her think me a daredevil or she’ll never let me go.
Pearl watched me closely but stayed silent, so I chose my words carefully.
“I understand that it would be dangerous, but if anyone were to venture into the Northlands to discover what is real and what is myth, it would benefit us enormously. Since I teach classes on the Nmen and I’m considered an expert…” I looked down and took a second before I met her eyes again. “I can’t think of a more suitable person than me, and I would be willing to step up and do it for all of us.”
“You would consider putting yourself at risk?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
The answer popped into my head immediately. For the adventure. But luckily I managed to apply a filter and say what she wanted to hear. “An individual serves the community so the community can support the individual.”
It was the words taught to us all from early childhood, and Councilwoman Pearl smiled.
“I see,” she said.
“They won’t harm me because if they did the repercussions would be severe, right?”
Pearl couldn’t be more than a few years older than me but she gave me a patient glance worthy of bestowal upon a child. “Christina, dear. Don’t think you know what Nmen would or wouldn’t do. They’re savages without a conscience.”
I nodded slowly. “I understand.” My heart was racing with excitement and fear. “But I’m not afraid,” I lied.
Pearl raised both her eyebrows. “It’s very brave of you to volunteer, but I would need to bring this up with the council before a decision can be made.”
“All right.”
“Are you absolutely sure you understand what you’re asking for, Christina?”
I swallowed hard but remained calm. “I’m volunteering to lead a team to excavate a potential library in the Northlands.”
“I’m afraid you’re mistaken if you think there will be a team going with you. We can’t force anyone, and so far, you’re the only one to volunteer. Unless you can find someone to go with you, you’ll be on your own.”
“But maybe they have some people who could help me with the work. I could teach them how.”
She drew in a deep breath with a worried expression. “Maybe, but we can’t know what skill level they have nor how cooperative they’ll be to a woman.”
“Maybe some of my students will come.”
Pearl shook her head. “I don’t like the idea of women and children going to that awful place.”
“My students aren’t children; they’re all above eighteen.”
“Maybe not children then, but young nevertheless.”
“If you let me do this, I’m sure I can convince one or two to go with me.”
She tapped her finger against her chin. “That would surprise me, but then again, you surprise me.”
I took that as a compliment, although I’m not sure she meant it as one. “When is the project planned to start?”
“Four months ago,” was her short answer. “The ruler of the Northlands contacted us. We just haven’t been able to find a volunteer.”
“Until now,” I added and tried to hide how my hands were shaking.
“Until now,” she repeated slowly and studied me. “If you’re sure about this, I’ll summon the council quickly and let you know.”
“Thank you,” I said and bowed my head.